Hepatitis B and C test results

[dominoes556]

Dr, thanks for ur very useful advice in the forum.I am from UK. I got tested for STDs in 2011 and have since been in a monogamous r'ship. I want to check if these tests would show any 'past' infections for Hep B/C which may have cleared by the time of the test:GP ran tests and the results read:Hep C antibody level - not significant, Viral hepatitis sceening test - no significant antigen or antibody detected, Hepatitis c antibody test - negative. A few months later I was automatically tested again by the GUM clinic, results read: HBsAg - negative, HCV numerical result - not significant.I haven't had many partners, I did not believe my past bfs to be promiscuous, (now I am more aware that the condom should be worn always)there were times when there would have been penetration (halfway) without a condom. Yet I worry in case any of them had a past I wasn't aware of! I also worried because I had 'dry humping' with another person, I found out later he sometimes takes cocaine though as far as I know he is not an IDU. As far as I remember we were wearing underwear but I am worried I am wrong, or that the underwear may have moved over. I am worried that I could have caught hepatitis from him. I know HepB and C are not transmitted too easily via vaginal sex, but if there was dry humping is it possible the penis could contact the anal area enough to make it an 'anal' sex risk? I mean without intentionally trying to have anal sex? There was also another occasion with someone where there was dry humping but a small amount of penetration occurred and stopped quite quickly tho I wasn't in a long term r'ship with them (but I don't think he was v  promiscuous) Would the hep tests have shown a past infection? I am not sure if I had the Hep B 'antibody tests.'

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

The viral hepatitis blood tests are highly accurate; for sure you are not (and never have been) infected with either the hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV and HCV, respecitvely).

HBV is readily transmitted by vaginal sex -- less efficiently than some STDs, but vaginal intercourse still accounts for most infections worldwide.  Not so for HCV.  Although often considered an STD, probably because people incorrectly assume it's transmission is pretty much the same as HBV, it isn't the case.  Vaginal sex transmission of HCV has never been proved; if it occurs at all, it is rare.  Even the long term spouses or partners of HCV infection have no higher rate of infection than the general population, unless they and their partners also have other risk factors in common, such as injection drug use with shared needles.  The only proved sexual transmission scenario for HBV is among men who have sex with men, and even then, only if they participate in practices that result in rectal bleeding.

From your description, therefore, you were never at sexual transmission risk for either of these viruses -- regardless of the vaginal sex transmission potential of HBV, that probably doesn't happen through the minimal exposure to secretions that can occur through clothing.

But as I started, the tests are accurate. Even if you had exposures that truly risked either infection, your results who you weren't infected.

I hope this has helped.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That wording suggests to me that you had negative results for HBV antibody, as well as HBV antigen (and HCV antibody) -- even though it doesn't explicitly mention HBV antibody.  You'll have to contact the doctor or clinic where the test was done for any more information.

After an HBV infection, antigen can clear in a few months or not until years later.  Or not at all; some people have chronic infections that continue indefinitely.

As I said above, it doesn't matter how high or low your risk has been for these infections, either from the event you describe or other sexual exposures in your life.  Your test results show you weren't infected.  You should not be at all worried about this.

[dominoes556]

Thanks Dr, your answer has helped. I just didn't understand my results sheets for Hep B, as at the GUM clinic they only seemed to run a test for the antigen (is that just for current infection?). Before that my GP ran a test for Hep B/C, on the results sheet it lists no Hep C antibody but it doesn't state that for Hep B. Again it says 'hep B surface antigen level negative.' It mentions a 'viral hepatitis screening test' and no antibodies or antigens, but doesn't say if that was Hep B or not?! Would that include all Hepatitis?
Or if I'm just looking at the Hep B antigen how long would that take to become negative after an infection passed?

I am just concerned if I ever exposed anyone in the past - my boyfriend has been vaccinated agaisnt Hep B, but I'm also worried about just family members etc . I was worried about having the 'dry humping' experience with the person I later found out sometimes takes cocaine...tho as far as I know he is not an IDU...if there were no clothes involved (I'm worried about if there was close to penetrative contact), it was some time ago so I am just covering all angles.